U.S. patent application number 13/793297 was filed with the patent office on 2014-09-11 for stylus sensitive device with hover over stylus control functionality.
This patent application is currently assigned to BARNESANDNOBLE.COM LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is BARNESANDNOBLE.COM LLC. Invention is credited to Gerald B. Cueto, Kourtny M. Hicks.
Application Number | 20140253465 13/793297 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51487263 |
Filed Date | 2014-09-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140253465 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hicks; Kourtny M. ; et
al. |
September 11, 2014 |
STYLUS SENSITIVE DEVICE WITH HOVER OVER STYLUS CONTROL
FUNCTIONALITY
Abstract
Techniques are disclosed for performing stylus-based actions in
electronic devices without the stylus having to touch the stylus
detection surface. A stylus action may include manipulating one or
more control features of the stylus, and each control feature
action or combination of actions may be associated with distinct
functions. The device may detect, for example, whether the stylus
is pointing to specific content or one or more UI control features
or icons on the device, for which a corresponding function can be
performed. In other cases, functions can be performed without
reference to specific content. The device may track stylus location
over the detection surface and the non-touch stylus action may be
location sensitive. The various functions assigned to non-touch
stylus actions may be performed on an application specific level,
or a global device level. An animation can be displayed as
non-touch stylus actions are executed.
Inventors: |
Hicks; Kourtny M.;
(Sunnyvale, CA) ; Cueto; Gerald B.; (San Jose,
CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
BARNESANDNOBLE.COM LLC |
New York |
NY |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
BARNESANDNOBLE.COM LLC
New York
NY
|
Family ID: |
51487263 |
Appl. No.: |
13/793297 |
Filed: |
March 11, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
345/173 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 3/0416 20130101;
G06F 3/0488 20130101; G06F 2203/04101 20130101; G06F 3/046
20130101; G06F 3/03545 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
345/173 |
International
Class: |
G06F 3/0354 20060101
G06F003/0354 |
Claims
1. A system, comprising: an electronic device having a display for
displaying content to a user and a stylus detection surface for
allowing user input via a stylus; and a user interface executable
on the device and comprising a stylus hover over mode, wherein the
stylus hover over mode is configured to perform a function on the
device in response to a stylus-based control feature input provided
without direct contact between the stylus detection surface and
stylus.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the stylus hover over mode is
further configured to perform a function on the stylus.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein the stylus detection surface
comprises at least one set of antenna coils configured to detect
changes in a resonant circuit within the stylus.
4. The system of claim 3 wherein the stylus detection surface
further comprises a second set of antenna coils configured to
detect at least one of location, speed of stylus movement, angle of
stylus inclination and/or a change in resonant frequency of the
resonant circuit within the stylus.
5. The system of claim 1 further comprising the stylus, wherein the
stylus includes at least one control feature including at least one
of a button, a rotating knob, a switch, a touch-sensitive area, a
pressure-sensitive area, and/or a sliding control switch, any of
which can be used to provide the stylus-based control feature
input.
6. The system of claim 5 wherein the stylus is configured to
communicate with the electronic device over a wireless
communication link.
7. The system of claim 6 wherein the stylus can be configured in
real-time over the wireless communication link.
8. The system of claim 1 wherein the stylus detection surface
detects a stylus-based control feature input by detecting a change
in resonant frequency of the stylus.
9. The system of claim 1 wherein the stylus-based control feature
input comprises a combination of stylus-based control feature
actions that is unique from other stylus-based control feature
input.
10. The system of claim 1 wherein the function performed by the
stylus hover over mode is user-configurable.
11. The system of claim 1 wherein the electronic device is further
configured to provide at least one of an audio and/or visual
notification associated with a function.
12. The system of claim 1 wherein the function performed by the
stylus hover over mode is determined based on stylus location over
the stylus detection surface.
13. The system of claim 1 wherein the display is a touch screen
display and includes the stylus detection surface.
14. The system of claim 1 wherein the electronic device is an
eReader device or a tablet computer or a smartphone.
15. The system of claim 1 wherein the stylus-based control feature
input is derived from at least one of a press-and-release action
and/or a press-and-hold action.
16. A system, comprising: an electronic device having a display for
displaying content to a user and a stylus detection surface for
allowing user input; a stylus having at least one control feature,
wherein the stylus is configured to communicate with the electronic
device via the stylus detection surface; and a user interface
executable on the device and comprising a stylus hover over mode,
wherein the stylus hover over mode is configured to perform a
function on the device in response to a stylus-based control
feature input provided without the stylus directly touching the
stylus detection surface.
17. A computer program product comprising a plurality of
instructions non-transiently encoded thereon to facilitate
operation of an electronic device according to the following
process, the process comprising: display content to a user via a
device having a stylus detection surface for allowing user input
via a stylus; and perform a function in response to a stylus-based
control feature input provided without direct contact between the
stylus detection surface and stylus.
18. The computer program product of claim 17 wherein the function
comprises at least one of performing an undo action, performing an
redo action, launching a note taking application, recording a sound
and/or images, or switching from a first tool to a second tool.
19. The computer program product of claim 17 wherein the stylus
control feature input is provided by a stylus-based control feature
comprising at least one of a button, a rotating knob, a switch,
and/or a sliding control switch of the stylus.
20. The computer program product of claim 17 wherein the stylus
detection surface detects a stylus-based control feature input by
detecting a change in resonant frequency of the stylus.
Description
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0001] This disclosure relates to electronic display devices, and
more particularly, to user interface techniques for interacting
with stylus sensitive computing devices.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Electronic display devices such as tablets, eReaders, mobile
phones, smart phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and other
such stylus sensitive electronic display devices are commonly used
for displaying consumable content. The content may be, for example,
an eBook, an online article or blog, images, documents, a movie or
video, just to name a few types. Such display devices are also
useful for displaying a user interface that allows a user to
interact with files or other content on the device. The user
interface may include, for example, one or more screen controls
and/or one or more displayed labels that correspond to nearby
hardware buttons. The user may interact with the touch/stylus
sensitive device using fingers, a stylus, or other implement. The
display may be backlit or not, and may be implemented for instance
with an LCD screen or an electrophoretic display. Such devices may
also include other contact sensitive surfaces, such as a track pad
(e.g., capacitive or resistive sensor) or contact sensitive housing
(e.g., acoustic sensor).
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0003] FIGS. 1a-b illustrate an example electronic computing device
with a stylus detection surface configured to detect stylus hover
over actions, in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0004] FIG. 1c illustrates an example stylus for use with an
electronic computing device, configured in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0005] FIGS. 1d-e illustrate example configuration screen shots of
the user interface of the electronic device shown in FIGS. 1a-b,
configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0006] FIG. 2a illustrates a block diagram of an electronic
computing device with a stylus sensitive display, configured in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0007] FIG. 2b illustrates a block diagram of a stylus configured
in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0008] FIG. 2c illustrates a block diagram of a communication link
between the electronic computing device of FIG. 2a and the stylus
of FIG. 2b, configured in accordance with an embodiment of the
present invention.
[0009] FIGS. 3a-b illustrate an example of an electronic stylus
sensitive device and stylus wherein a stylus hover over action
opens an application, in accordance with an embodiment of the
present invention.
[0010] FIGS. 4a-b illustrate an example of an electronic stylus
sensitive device and stylus wherein a selection-free stylus hover
over action performs the undo function, in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0011] FIGS. 5a-c illustrate an example of an electronic stylus
sensitive device and stylus configured to perform stylus hover over
actions, in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0012] FIG. 6 illustrates a method for performing device functions
using a stylus hover over action, in accordance with an embodiment
of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0013] Techniques are disclosed for performing functions in
electronic devices using stylus control feature actions while the
stylus is hovering over a stylus detection surface. The stylus
hover over actions may be configured to perform various
configurable and/or hard-coded functions. The stylus detection
surface may be, for example, incorporated into a stylus sensitive
display, or may be a separate stylus detection surface associated
with the display of the electronic computing device. A stylus hover
over action may include manipulating one or more control features
of the stylus, and each control feature action or combination of
actions may be associated with a distinct function. In some cases,
the stylus detection surface may detect whether the stylus is
pointing to specific content on the device and the stylus hover
over actions may perform functions on selected content or on one or
more UI control features or icons on the device. In other cases, no
specific content selection is needed; rather, the function
performed is selection-free. In some embodiments, the device may
track the stylus location over the stylus detection surface and the
stylus hover over action may be location sensitive. In such an
example, a stylus hover over action may perform different functions
depending on the stylus' location above the stylus detection
surface. The various functions assigned to hover over stylus
actions may be performed on a content specific level, an
application specific level, or a global device level. An animation
can be displayed as the stylus hover over actions perform various
functions on the device.
[0014] General Overview
[0015] As previously explained, electronic display devices such as
tablets, eReaders, and smart phones are commonly used for
displaying user interfaces and consumable content. In typical
operation, the user might desire to, for example, adjust volume,
open a file, change screen settings, switch application, perform
the undo, copy, paste, or delete functions, or otherwise interact
with a given electronic device. While most electronic devices
typically provide a series of direct contact actions for performing
these various tasks, there does not appear to be an intuitive hover
over stylus control feature based user interface function for
performing such tasks.
[0016] Thus, and in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention, stylus-based techniques are provided for performing
functions in electronic devices using stylus control feature
actions while the stylus is hovering over a stylus detection
surface. The techniques disclosed may be used to perform functions
at an electronic device by manipulating control features of a
stylus without requiring direct contact between the stylus and the
electronic device. A stylus hover over control feature action, such
as pushing the top button of the stylus, may be associated with a
function such as increasing volume, increasing font size, creating
a note (e.g., such as notes taken during an educational lecture, or
a message for another user of the device, or a reminder, etc),
undo, recording a lecture or other ambient sounds, etc. In a more
general sense, any uniquely identifiable stylus control feature
action or combination of actions performed while hovering over a
stylus detection surface may be configured to perform a stylus or
device function. In some embodiments, the stylus may be pointing to
a specific selection of content, a UI control feature or icon, or a
specific area of a stylus sensitive display. In such an example,
the stylus hover over action may be used to perform an operation on
the selected content, open the selected file or application,
manipulate the UI control feature, etc. In one specific such
example, a stylus hover over action may be associated with a
different function depending on the area of the screen over which
the stylus is hovering. In other embodiments, the stylus hover over
action may be configured to perform a certain function regardless
of whether content is selected or where the stylus is pointing. In
some such selection-free embodiments, the stylus hover over action
may perform a certain function based on a currently running
application, or a specific stylus control feature may be globally
associated with a specific device function. Numerous selection-free
hover over stylus actions will be apparent in light of this
disclosure, and such functions may be user-configurable or
hard-coded.
[0017] In some embodiments, the hover over stylus action may be
combined with or otherwise preceded by a content selection action
(e.g., a single item selection, a select-and-drag action, a
book-end selection where content between two end points is
selected, or any other available content selection technique). As
will be appreciated, the stylus may be used to make the content
selection, but it need not be; rather, content may be selected
using any means. In one example embodiment, the user may select a
section of text, and then perform the copy function (or other
function assigned to a stylus control feature), which will save the
selected text onto the stylus. In a more general sense, the stylus
may be used to perform functions on content that was pre-selected
with or without the stylus, or to simultaneously select and perform
functions on target content. The degree to which the selection and
other functions overlap may vary depending on factors such as the
type of content and the processing capability of the stylus and/or
related device.
[0018] In some example embodiments, the hover over stylus actions
are accompanied with animation, sound and/or haptic effects to
further enhance the user interface experience. For example, copy
animation might show a vortex or sucking of the selected content
into the stylus if the stylus hover over action is being used to
copy content into the stylus or other target location. In a similar
fashion, a volume increase animation might show a speaker with an
increasing number of sound waves coming from it if the stylus hover
over action is being used to increase volume. If a selection-free
no-contact undo stylus action is being executed, then a sound could
accompany the undo function, such as a custom sound selected by the
user, or any other suitable sound. A combination of animation,
sound, haptic, and/or other suitable notifications can be used as
well, as will be appreciated in light of this disclosure.
[0019] The techniques have a number of advantages, as will be
appreciated in light of this disclosure. For instance, in some
cases, the techniques can be employed to provide a discreet and
intuitive way for a user to interact with a device without overly
distracting the user (or others nearby) from other events occurring
during the interaction. For instance, in some such embodiments, a
student attending a lecture (either live or via a network) can
activate note taking and voice recording applications via non-touch
stylus-based control actions, without having to look at the device
(or with minimal looking). In such cases, for instance, the student
can hold the stylus generally over the stylus sensitive surface
while still maintaining focus and concentration on the lecturer and
presentation materials, and readily activate tools that can
supplement the educational experience.
[0020] Numerous uniquely identifiable engagement and notification
schemes that exploit a stylus and a stylus detection surface to
effect desired functions without requiring direct contact on the
touch sensitive surface can be used, as will be appreciated in
light of this disclosure. Further note that any stylus detection
surface (e.g., track pad, touch screen, electro-magnetic resonance
(EMR) sensor grid, or other stylus sensitive surface, whether
capacitive, resistive, acoustic, or other stylus detecting
technology) may be used to detect the stylus hover over action and
the claimed invention is not intended to be limited to any
particular type of stylus detection technology, unless expressly
stated.
[0021] Architecture
[0022] FIGS. 1a-b illustrate an example electronic computing device
with a stylus detection surface configured to detect stylus hover
over actions, in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention. As can be seen, in this example embodiment, the stylus
detection surface is a touch screen surface. The device could be,
for example, a tablet such as the NOOK.RTM. tablet or eReader by
Barnes & Noble. In a more general sense, the device may be any
electronic device having a stylus detection user interface and
capability for displaying content to a user, such as a mobile phone
or mobile computing device such as a laptop, a desktop computing
system, a television, a smart display screen, or any other device
having a stylus detection display or a non-sensitive display screen
that can be used in conjunction with a stylus detection surface. In
a more general sense, the touch sensitive device may comprise any
touch sensitive device with built-in componentry to
accept/recognize input from a stylus with which the device can be
paired so as to allow for stylus input, including stylus hover over
functionality as described herein. As will be appreciated, the
claimed invention is not intended to be limited to any particular
kind or type of electronic device.
[0023] As can be seen with this example configuration, the device
comprises a housing that includes a number of hardware features
such as a power button, control features, and a press-button
(sometimes called a home button herein). A user interface is also
provided, which in this example embodiment includes a quick
navigation menu having six main categories to choose from (Home,
Library, Shop, Search, Light, and Settings) and a status bar that
includes a number of icons (a night-light icon, a wireless network
icon, and a book icon), a battery indicator, and a clock. Other
embodiments may have fewer or additional such user interface (UI)
features, or different UI features altogether, depending on the
target application of the device. Any such general UI controls and
features can be implemented using any suitable conventional or
custom technology, as will be appreciated.
[0024] The hardware control features provided on the device housing
in this example embodiment are configured as elongated press-bars
and can be used, for example, to page forward (using the top
press-bar) or to page backward (using the bottom press-bar), such
as might be useful in an eReader application. The power button can
be used to turn the device on and off, and may be used in
conjunction with a touch-based UI control feature that allows the
user to confirm a given power transition action request (e.g., such
as a slide bar or tap point graphic to turn power off). Numerous
variations will be apparent, and the claimed invention is not
intended to be limited to any particular set of hardware buttons or
features, or device form factor.
[0025] In this example configuration, the home button is a physical
press-button that can be used as follows: when the device is awake
and in use, tapping the button will display the quick navigation
menu, which is a toolbar that provides quick access to various
features of the device. The home button may also be configured to
cease an active function that is currently executing on the device,
or close a configuration sub-menu that is currently open. The
button may further control other functionality if, for example, the
user presses and holds the home button. For instance, an example
such push-and-hold function could engage a power conservation
routine where the device is put to sleep or an otherwise lower
power consumption mode. So, a user could grab the device by the
button, press and keep holding as the device is stowed into a bag
or purse. Thus, one physical gesture may safely put the device to
sleep. In such an example embodiment, the home button may be
associated with and control different and unrelated actions: 1)
show the quick navigation menu; 2) exit a configuration sub-menu;
and 3) put the device to sleep. As can be further seen, the status
bar may also include a book icon (upper left corner). In some
cases, selecting the book icon may provide bibliographic
information on the content or provide the main menu or table of
contents for the book, movie, playlist, or other content.
[0026] FIG. 1c illustrates an example stylus for use with an
electronic computing device configured in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention. As can be seen, in this
particular configuration, the stylus comprises a stylus tip used to
interact with the stylus detection surface (by either direct
contact or hover over interaction, or otherwise sufficiently
proximate indirect contact) and control features including a top
button and a side button along the shaft of the stylus. In this
example, the stylus tip has a rounded triangular shape, while in
alternative embodiments the stylus tip may be more rounded, or any
other suitable shape. The stylus tip may be made of any number of
materials of different textures and firmness depending on the needs
of the specific device. The stylus may include fewer or additional
control features than the top and side buttons illustrated in FIG.
1c, or different control features altogether. Such control features
may include, for example, a rotating knob, a switch, a sliding
control bar, or other suitable control feature that will be
apparent in light of this disclosure. The principles disclosed
herein equally apply to such control features. For ease of
description, stylus examples are provided with push button control
features. The stylus may be an active or passive stylus, or any
other suitable pen-like implement for interacting with the device
and performing hover over actions. As will be appreciated, the
claimed invention is not intended to be limited to any particular
kind or type of stylus.
[0027] In one particular embodiment, a stylus hover over action
configuration sub-menu, such as the one shown in FIG. 1e, may be
accessed by selecting the Settings option in the quick navigation
menu, which causes the device to display the general sub-menu shown
in FIG. 1d. From this general sub-menu, the user can select any one
of a number of options, including one designated Stylus in this
specific example case. Selecting this sub-menu item may cause the
configuration sub-menu of FIG. 1e to be displayed, in accordance
with an embodiment. In other example embodiments, selecting the
Stylus option may present the user with a number of additional
sub-options, one of which may include a so-called "stylus hover
over action" option, which may then be selected by the user so as
to cause the stylus hover over action configuration sub-menu of
FIG. 1e to be displayed. Any number of such menu schemes and nested
hierarchies can be used, as will be appreciated in light of this
disclosure. In other embodiments, the stylus hover over action
function can be hard-coded such that no configuration sub-menus are
needed or otherwise provided (e.g., top button click while hovering
over the device for carrying out actions as described herein, with
no user configuration needed). The degree of hard-coding versus
user-configurability can vary from one embodiment to the next, and
the claimed invention is not intended to be limited to any
particular configuration scheme of any kind, as will be
appreciated.
[0028] As will be appreciated, the various UI control features and
sub-menus displayed to the user are implemented as UI touch screen
controls in this example embodiment. Such UI touch screen controls
can be programmed or otherwise configured using any number of
conventional or custom technologies. In general, the touch screen
translates the user touch (e.g., finger or stylus) in a given
location into an electrical signal which is then received and
processed by the underlying operating system (OS) and circuitry
(processor, etc). Additional example details of the underlying OS
and circuitry in accordance with some embodiments will be discussed
in turn with reference to FIG. 2a.
[0029] The stylus detection surface (or stylus detection display,
in this example case) can be any surface that is configured with
stylus detecting technologies capable of non-contact detection,
whether capacitive, resistive, acoustic, active-stylus, and/or
other input detecting technology. The screen display can be layered
above input sensors, such as a capacitive sensor grid for passive
touch-based input such as with a finger or passive stylus in the
case of a so-called in-plane switching (IPS) panel, or an
electro-magnetic resonance (EMR) sensor grid. In some embodiments,
the stylus detection display can be configured with a purely
capacitive sensor, while in other embodiments the touch screen
display may be configured to provide a hybrid mode that allows for
both capacitive input and EMR input, for example. In still other
embodiments, the stylus detection surface is configured with only
an active stylus sensor. Numerous touch screen display
configurations can be implemented using any number of known or
proprietary screen based input detecting technologies. In any such
embodiments, a stylus detection surface controller may be
configured to selectively scan the stylus detection surface and/or
selectively report stylus inputs detected proximate to (e.g.,
within a few centimeters, or otherwise sufficiently close so as to
allow detection) the stylus detection surface.
[0030] In one example embodiment, a stylus input can be provided by
the stylus hovering some distance above the stylus detection
display (e.g., one to a few centimeters above the surface, or even
farther, depending on the sensing technology deployed in the stylus
detection surface), but nonetheless triggering a response at the
device just as if direct contact were provided directly on the
display. As will be appreciated in light of this disclosure, a
stylus as used herein may be implemented with any number of stylus
technologies, such as a DuoSense.RTM. pen by N-trig.RTM. (e.g.,
wherein the stylus utilizes a touch sensor grid of a touch screen
display) or EMR-based pens by Wacom technology, or any other
commercially available or proprietary stylus technology. Further
recall that the stylus sensor in the computing device may be
distinct from an also provisioned touch sensor grid in the
computing device. Having the touch sensor grid separate from the
stylus sensor grid allows the device to, for example, only scan for
an stylus input, a touch contact, or to scan specific areas for
specific input sources, in accordance with some embodiments. In one
such embodiment, the stylus sensor grid includes a network of
antenna coils that create a magnetic field which powers a resonant
circuit within the stylus. In such an example, the stylus may be
powered by energy from the antenna coils in the device and the
stylus may return the magnetic signal back to the device, thus
communicating the stylus' location above the device, angle of
inclination, speed of movement, and control feature activation
(e.g., push-button action). Such an embodiment also eliminates the
need for a battery on the stylus because the stylus can be powered
by the antenna coils of the device. In one particular example, the
stylus sensor grid includes more than one set of antenna coils. In
such an example embodiment, one set of antenna coils may be used to
merely detect the presence of a hovering or otherwise sufficiently
proximate stylus, while another set of coils determines with more
precision the stylus' location above the device and can track the
stylus' movements.
[0031] As previously explained, and with further reference to FIGS.
1d and 1e, once the Settings sub-menu is displayed (FIG. 1d), the
user can then select the Stylus option. In response to such a
selection, the stylus hover over action configuration sub-menu
shown in FIG. 1e can be provided to the user. The user can
configure a number of functions with respect to the stylus hover
over action function, in this example embodiment. For instance, in
this example case, the configuration sub-menu includes a UI check
box that when checked or otherwise selected by the user,
effectively enables the stylus hover over action mode (shown in the
enabled state); unchecking the box disables the mode. Other
embodiments may have the stylus hover over action mode always
enabled, or enabled by a physical switch or button located on
either the device or the stylus, for example. In addition, the
stylus of this example case includes a top button and a side
button, and once the hover over action mode is enabled, the user
can associate a function with each of the buttons using a drop down
menu, for example. Examples of possible functions include, select
content/icon, run application, cut, copy, delete, undo, redo, next
page, zoom in/out, adjust font size, adjust brightness, adjust
volume, switch tool or application, skip scene, create a note (on
device), or start an audio or video recording of a classroom
lecture or other event (from device or stylus if stylus is
configured to record/store sounds/video). Hover over action
functions may be configured on a content specific level, an
application specific level, or on a global level wherein the action
performs the same function regardless of the application running or
type of content currently displayed at the time, and regardless of
whether content is selected. In this particular example, the top
button is configured to perform a custom function based on the
application currently running (application specific functionality
will be discussed in further detail below), while the side button
is not associated with any hover over function. The press-and-hold
action on the top button is associated with zooming in, in this
particular example embodiment. A default top button press is
associated with the increase volume function in this particular
example. In such an example, the default function of increasing
volume may be performed if an application specific function is not
assigned to the hover over action, or if no application is
currently running.
[0032] With further reference to the example embodiment of FIG. 1e,
the user may also specify a number of applications in which the
stylus hover over action mode can be invoked. Such a configuration
feature may be helpful, for instance, in a tablet or laptop or
other multifunction computing device that can execute different
applications (as opposed to a device that is more or less dedicated
to a particular application). In this example case, the available
applications are provided along with a corresponding pull-down
menu, but could be a UI check box or some other suitable UI
feature. Note the diverse nature of the example applications,
including an eBook application, a photo viewing application, a
browser application, a file manager application, and a video
player, just to name a few examples. In this example case, the
hover over stylus action is associated with the next page function
when an eBook is running, with the zoom-in function when a photo
viewing/editing application is running, with no custom function
when a browser application is running, with the open function when
a file manager application is running, and with the skip scene
function when a video player application is running. In other
embodiments, multiple stylus control features may be associated
with distinct functions for different applications. In one such
example embodiment, in a word processing application a
selection-free control feature action may be associated with the
undo function, a side button action may be associated with copying
selected content, and a top button action may be associated with
the paste function.
[0033] In some embodiments the user may also enable a highlight
selection option, which may highlight content when the stylus is
pointing toward that content while hovering over the stylus
detection surface. Such a feature can apply when the user is
opening an application from a list of possible applications. In
this particular embodiment shown in FIG. 1e, the highlight mode is
enabled and the application, document, selection of text, etc. upon
which the stylus hover over action will be performed is
highlighted. As used here, highlighting may refer, for example, to
any visual and/or aural indication of a content selection, which
may or may not include a formatting change. In one particular
embodiment, the stylus hover over action may be associated with
opening a file and the highlighting function may outline a
particular file that the stylus is pointing toward, thus indicating
that a control feature action at that moment will open that
particular file.
[0034] In other embodiments, the hover over action mode can be
invoked whenever the stylus is activated, regardless of the
application being used. Any number of applications or device
functions may benefit from a stylus hover over action mode as
provided herein, whether user-configurable or not, and the claimed
invention is not intended to be limited to any particular
application or set of applications.
[0035] As can be further seen, a back button arrow UI control
feature may be provisioned on the screen for any of the menus
provided, so that the user can go back to the previous menu, if so
desired. Note that configuration settings provided by the user can
be saved automatically (e.g., user input is saved as selections are
made or otherwise provided). Alternatively, a save button or other
such UI feature can be provisioned, which the user can engage as
desired. Numerous other configurable aspects will be apparent in
light of this disclosure. For instance, in some embodiments, the
stylus hover over action function can be assigned on a context
basis. For instance, the configuration menu may allow the user to
assign the top button to copy entire files or emails and assign the
side button to copy within a given file. Thus, the techniques
provided herein can be implemented on a global level, a content
based level, or an application level, in some example cases. Note
that in some embodiments the various stylus actions may be visually
demonstrated to the user as they are carried out via copy, delete,
or other suitable function animations. Such animations provide
clarity to the function being performed, and in some embodiments
the animations may be user-configurable while they may be
hard-coded in other embodiments.
[0036] FIG. 2a illustrates a block diagram of an electronic
computing device with a stylus sensitive display, configured in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As can be
seen, this example device includes a processor, memory (e.g., RAM
and/or ROM for processor workspace and storage), additional
storage/memory (e.g., for content), a communications module, a
display, a stylus detection surface, and an audio module. A
communications bus and interconnect is also provided to allow
inter-device communication. Other typical componentry and
functionality not reflected in the block diagram will be apparent
(e.g., battery, co-processor, etc.). Further note that in some
embodiments the stylus detection surface may be integrated into the
device display. Alternatively, the stylus detection surface may be
a track pad, a housing configured with one or more acoustic
sensors, a separate stylus sensitive surface that may be connected
to the device via cables or a wireless link, etc. As discussed
above, the stylus detection surface may employ any suitable input
detection technology that is capable of translating an action of a
stylus hovering over the surface into an electronic signal that can
be manipulated or otherwise used to trigger a specific user
interface action, such as those provided herein. The principles
provided herein equally apply to any such stylus sensitive devices.
For ease of description, examples are provided with stylus
sensitive displays.
[0037] In this example embodiment, the memory includes a number of
modules stored therein that can be accessed and executed by the
processor (and/or a co-processor). The modules include an operating
system (OS), a user interface (UI), and a power conservation
routine (Power). The modules can be implemented, for example, in
any suitable programming language (e.g., C, C++, objective C,
JavaScript, custom or proprietary instruction sets, etc), and
encoded on a machine readable medium, that when executed by the
processor (and/or co-processors), carries out the functionality of
the device including a UI having a hover over stylus action
function as described herein. The computer readable medium may be,
for example, a hard drive, compact disk, memory stick, server, or
any suitable non-transitory computer/computing device memory that
includes executable instructions, or a plurality or combination of
such memories. Other embodiments can be implemented, for instance,
with gate-level logic or an application-specific integrated circuit
(ASIC) or chip set or other such purpose built logic, or a
microcontroller having input/output capability (e.g., inputs for
receiving user inputs and outputs for directing other components)
and a number of embedded routines for carrying out the device
functionality. In short, the functional modules can be implemented
in hardware, software, firmware, or a combination thereof.
[0038] The processor can be any suitable processor (e.g., 800 MHz
Texas Instruments OMAP3621 applications processor), and may include
one or more co-processors or controllers to assist in device
control. In this example case, the processor receives input from
the user, including input from or otherwise derived from the power
button and the home button. The processor can also have a direct
connection to a battery so that it can perform base level tasks
even during sleep or low power modes. The memory (e.g., for
processor workspace and executable file storage) can be any
suitable type of memory and size (e.g., 256 or 512 Mbytes SDRAM),
and in other embodiments may be implemented with non-volatile
memory or a combination of non-volatile and volatile memory
technologies. The storage (e.g., for storing consumable content and
user files) can also be implemented with any suitable memory and
size (e.g., 2 GBytes of flash memory). The display can be
implemented, for example, with a 6-inch E-ink Pearl 800.times.600
pixel screen with Neonode.RTM. zForce.RTM. touch screen, or any
other suitable display and touch screen interface technology. The
communications module can be configured to execute, for instance,
any suitable protocol which allows for connection to the stylus so
that hover over stylus actions may be detected by the device, or to
otherwise provide a communication link between the device and the
stylus or other external systems. Note in some cases that slider
actions of the stylus are communicated to the device by virtue of
the stylus detection surface and not the communication module. In
this sense, the communication module may be optional. Example
communications modules may include an NFC (near field connection),
Bluetooth, 802.11 b/g/n WLAN, or other suitable chip or chip set
that allows for wireless connection to the stylus (including any
custom or proprietary protocols). In some embodiments, a wired
connection can be used between the stylus and device. In some
specific example embodiments, the device housing that contains all
the various componentry measures about 6.5'' high by about 5'' wide
by about 0.5'' thick, and weighs about 6.9 ounces. Any number of
suitable form factors can be used, depending on the target
application (e.g., laptop, desktop, mobile phone, etc). The device
may be smaller, for example, for smartphone and tablet applications
and larger for smart computer monitor applications.
[0039] The operating system (OS) module can be implemented with any
suitable OS, but in some example embodiments is implemented with
Google Android OS or Linux OS or Microsoft OS or Apple OS. As will
be appreciated in light of this disclosure, the techniques provided
herein can be implemented on any such platforms. The power
management (Power) module can be configured, for example, to
automatically transition the device to a low power consumption or
sleep mode after a period of non-use. A wake-up from that sleep
mode can be achieved, for example, by a physical button press
and/or a stylus hover over action, a touch screen swipe or other
action. The user interface (UI) module can be programmed or
otherwise configured, for example, to carryout user interface
functionality, including that functionality based on stylus action
detection as discussed herein and the various example screen shots
shown in FIGS. 1a, 1d-e, 3a-b, 4a-b, and 5a-c, in conjunction with
the stylus-based methodologies demonstrated in FIG. 6, which will
be discussed in turn. The audio module can be configured, for
example, to speak or otherwise aurally present a selected eBook
table of contents or other textual content, if preferred by the
user. Numerous commercially available text-to-speech modules can be
used, such as Verbose text-to-speech software by NCH Software. In
some example cases, if additional space is desired, for example, to
store digital books or other content and media, storage can be
expanded via a microSD card or other suitable memory expansion
technology (e.g., 32 GBytes, or higher). Further note that although
a touch screen display is provided, other embodiments may include a
non-touch screen and a touch sensitive surface such as a track pad,
or a touch sensitive housing configured with one or more acoustic
sensors, etc.
[0040] FIG. 2b illustrates a block diagram of a stylus configured
in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As can
be seen, this example stylus includes a storage/memory and a
communication module. A communications bus and interconnect may be
provided to allow inter-device communication. An optional processor
may also be included in the stylus to provide local intelligence,
but such is not necessary in embodiments where the electronic
computing device with which the stylus is communicatively coupled
provides the requisite control and direction. Other componentry and
functionality not reflected in the block diagram will be apparent
(e.g., battery, speaker, antenna, etc). The optional processor can
be any suitable processor and may be programmed or otherwise
configured to assist in controlling the stylus, and may receive
input from the user from control features including a top and side
button. The storage may be implemented with any suitable memory and
size (e.g., 2 to 4 GBytes of flash memory). In other example
embodiments, storage/memory on the stylus itself may not be
necessary.
[0041] The communications module can be, for instance, any suitable
module which allows for connection to a nearby electronic device so
that information may be passed between the device and the stylus.
Example communication modules may include an NFC, Bluetooth,
802.11b/g/n WLAN, or other suitable chip or chip set which allows
for connection to the electronic device. In other embodiments, the
communication module of the stylus may implement EMR or other
similar technologies that can communicate stylus information to a
device, including stylus location and whether a stylus action has
been performed, without a separate communications chip or chip set.
In one such example, the stylus may include a communication module
comprising a resonator circuit that may be manipulated using the
various control features of the stylus. In such an example,
performing hover over actions with the stylus may be accomplished
by using a control feature to adjust the resonant frequency of the
resonator circuit. The altered resonant frequency may be detected
by, for example, an EMR detection grid of the stylus detection
surface of the device, thus triggering a response at the device.
Note in such a case that a separate dedicated communication module
may be optional.
[0042] In another example case, the communications module may
receive input from the user from control features including a top
and side button, wherein such inputs can be used to enable the
various functions of the communications module. As will be
appreciated, commands may be communicated and/or target content may
be transferred between (e.g., copied or cut or pasted) the stylus
and the electronic device over a communication link. In one
embodiment, the stylus includes memory storage and a transceiver,
but no dedicated processor. In such an embodiment, the processor of
the electronic device communicates with the transceiver of the
stylus and performs the various functions as indicated by the
user.
[0043] FIG. 2c illustrates a block diagram showing a communication
link between the electronic computing device of FIG. 2a and the
stylus of FIG. 2b, according to one embodiment of the present
invention. As can be seen, the system generally includes an
electronic computing device that is capable of wirelessly
connecting to other devices and a stylus that is also capable of
wirelessly connecting to other devices. In this example embodiment,
the electronic computing device may be, for example, an e-Book
reader, a mobile cell phone, a laptop, a tablet, desktop, or any
other stylus sensitive computing device. As described above, the
communication link may include an NFC, Bluetooth, 802.11b/g/n WLAN,
electro-magnetic resonance, and/or other suitable communication
link which allows for communication between one or more electronic
devices and a stylus. In some embodiments, EMR technology may be
implemented along with one or more of NFC, Bluetooth, 802.11b/g/n
WLAN, etc. In one such example, EMR may be used to power a stylus
and track its location above a device while NFC may enable data
transfer between the stylus and the device. In some embodiments,
the stylus may be configured in real-time over the communication
link. In one such example, the user may adjust stylus configuration
settings using the various menus and sub-menus such as those
described in FIGS. 1d-e and the stylus may be reconfigured in
real-time over the communication link.
[0044] Example Stylus Hover Over Action Functions
[0045] FIGS. 3a-b illustrate an example of an electronic stylus
sensitive device and stylus wherein a stylus hover over action
opens an application, in accordance with an embodiment of the
present invention. As can be seen, a physical frame or support
structure is provided about the stylus sensitive display, and the
screen is displaying a book, playlist, album, movie, and two
applications. In this particular example scenario, the top button
of the stylus is associated with the open function (e.g.,
hard-coded or via a configuration sub-menu) and the user has
selected Application 1. Application 1 may be selected in any
suitable manner using the stylus, the user's finger, or any other
selection method (note that selection of the Application 1 may have
been pre-established prior to the open action, or at the same time
as the open action such as the case when the stylus is pointing at
the target content to be acted upon in response to the hovering
control action). In this example case, the hover over action mode
is enabled (e.g., as described in reference to FIG. 1e, or
hard-coded) and the user has pointed the stylus toward Application
1 while hovering over the device, thus causing Application 1 to be
outlined as shown. Such optional highlighting may assist the user
in identifying what file or application will be opened before
performing the action.
[0046] In the example shown in FIG. 3b, when the user presses and
releases the top button of the stylus, the device opens Application
1, as shown. In this particular example, the open function is
performed upon release of the button and the stylus must remain
hovering sufficiently proximate to the stylus detection surface
until the button is released. In some such example scenarios, if
the user decides not to open Application 1 after pressing the
button, the user may remove the stylus away from the touch screen
before releasing the button, and the application will not be
opened. In another example case, the opening function can be
performed as soon as the stylus button is pressed, and as long as
the communication link can be maintained, the open action will be
carried out and the target application or file will be opened. In
other embodiments, upon release of the stylus button, an action may
be automatically performed on a file or application. For instance,
a file may be sent to trash, sent to a designated folder, or
deleted, in some such embodiments. As previously explained, the
resulting action may be user-configurable or hard-coded.
[0047] FIGS. 4a-b illustrate an example of an electronic stylus
sensitive device and stylus wherein a selection-free stylus hover
over action performs the undo function, in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention. As seen in this example, a
stylus sensitive display screen is displaying a drawing, Drawing 1,
including lines drawn by the stylus. In the example shown in FIG.
4a, the user has just finished drawing a second line on Drawing 1
with the stylus. In this particular example, the top button of the
stylus is associated with the undo function (e.g., hard-coded or
via a configuration sub-menu) and there is no content selection
prior to performing the undo function.
[0048] In the example shown in FIG. 4b, the user has removed the
stylus from direct contact with the stylus sensitive display after
drawing the second line and has subsequently pressed and released
the top button of the stylus while the stylus is hovering over, or
otherwise sufficiently proximate to, the surface of the device. The
top button is associated with the undo function, thus the most
recent action by the user is undone. As can be seen, in this
specific example the second line drawn on Drawing 1 is removed. In
this particular example, the undo action is performed upon release
of the button and the stylus must remain sufficiently proximate to
the stylus detection surface until the button is released. In such
an example, if the user decides not to perform the undo action
after pressing the button, the user may move the stylus away from
the stylus sensitive display before releasing the button, and the
undo action will effectively be canceled. In other embodiments, the
undo function can commence immediately upon pressing of the stylus
button and the stylus need only remain communicatively coupled with
the device. As previously explained, the various stylus actions may
be user-configurable or hard-coded.
[0049] FIGS. 5a-c illustrate an example of an electronic stylus
sensitive device and stylus configured to perform stylus hover over
actions, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
As seen in this example, a stylus sensitive display screen is
displaying a selection of text. The text could be, for example, a
page of an eBook, a word document, or any other selection of text.
In the example shown in FIG. 5a, the user is viewing page 1 of the
text at a size 12 font. In this particular example, pressing and
holding the top button of the stylus is associated with increasing
the font size of the displayed text (e.g., hard-coded or via a
configuration sub-menu) and there is no content selection prior to
performing the font increase function. Furthermore, in this example
embodiment the press-and-release action of the top button is
associated with turning the pages of the displayed text. As can be
seen in reference to FIG. 5b, when the user presses and holds the
top button of the stylus while hovering the stylus above the device
the font size increases. In this particular example, the user holds
down the button long enough to increase the font size to size 18
font. In another embodiment, the font increase function may be
accompanied with a graphic box displaying to the user the font size
as it increases. In another embodiment the font size (or other
variable being adjusted) may be set to increase one font size per
second, or at some other desired rate. In some embodiments the
increase font size may be performed regardless of where the stylus
is located above the stylus sensitive display. In other
embodiments, however, a press-and-hold function above one area of
the screen (the bottom right area, for example) may result in an
increase in the font size while a press-and-hold function above
another area of the screen (the bottom left, for example) may
result in a decrease in the font size. As discussed above, such
functions may be hard-coded or user-configurable.
[0050] In the example shown in FIG. 5c, the user has pressed and
released the top button of the stylus while hovering the stylus
over the stylus sensitive display, thus turning to page 2 of the
text. In this particular example, the user has performed one button
click, and therefore moved one page forward. In such an example,
the next page action is performed upon release of the button and
the stylus must remain sufficiently proximate to the stylus
detection surface until the button is released. In such an example,
if the user decides not to perform the next page action after
pressing the button, the user may move the stylus away from the
stylus sensitive display before releasing the button, and the
action will effectively be canceled. In other embodiments, the next
page action can commence immediately upon pressing of the stylus
button and the stylus need only remain communicatively coupled with
the device. In some embodiments the next page function may be
performed regardless of where the stylus is located above the
surface of the stylus sensitive display, while in other embodiments
different functions may be assigned to control feature actions at
different locations above the device. In one specific such example,
the top button action may provide the next page to the user when it
is performed hovering over the right edge of the file or eBook
being viewed, while the same action performed over the left edge of
the file or eBook may provide the previous page to the user.
[0051] Methodology
[0052] FIG. 6 illustrates a method for performing a stylus action
while hovering the stylus above the surface of an electronic stylus
sensitive device, in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention. This example methodology may be implemented, for
instance, by the UI module of the electronic computing device shown
in FIG. 2a. To this end, the UI module can be implemented in
software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof, as will
be appreciated in light of this disclosure. The various stylus
hover over actions may be communicated to the device over a
communication link (e.g., EMR link, and/or dedicated communication
link such as NFC or Bluetooth).
[0053] In general, any stylus sensitive surface may be used to
detect the stylus hovering over the device. As discussed above, EMR
or other suitable technology may be implemented to detect the
presence of a stylus hovering over a stylus sensitive display, as
well as to communicate stylus actions to the electronic device. In
one particular example, EMR technology may be implemented to power
and/or track a stylus hovering over a stylus sensitive display. In
one such example, a control feature action may be communicated from
the stylus to the device by manipulating the resonant frequency of
a resonant circuit within the stylus. This change in resonant
frequency may be detected by the antenna coils of the stylus
detection grid, thus triggering a response at the device, in
accordance with some such embodiments. Various control features
and/or control feature actions of the stylus may create different
changes in resonant frequency, and thus may be assigned distinct
functions. The stylus detection grid may track the location of the
stylus, thus determining whether the stylus is pointing at selected
content, a UI control feature or icon, a specific area of the
stylus sensitive display, etc. These main detections can be used in
various ways to implement UI functionality.
[0054] In this example case, the method includes monitoring 601
whether stylus input has been received, which may include input
received when the stylus is hovering over or is otherwise
sufficiently proximate to the stylus detection surface. In some
embodiments, monitoring for stylus input includes monitoring all or
part of a stylus sensitive display screen. In general, the
stylus-based input monitoring is effectively continuous, and once a
stylus input has been detected, the method may continue with
determining 602 whether a non-contact stylus control feature action
has been performed. Example such control feature actions may
include a button click or press-and-release action, a
press-and-hold action, a control knob/wheel action, a switch
action, a combination of control feature actions, or any other
stylus-based control action that doesn't involve the stylus
directly contacting the touch sensitive surface of the related
computing device. If no touch-free control feature action has been
performed, the method may continue with reviewing 603 the stylus
hover over action for other UI requests (such as touch-based stylus
input). If a non-contact stylus control feature action has been
performed, the method may continue with determining 604 whether the
touch-free stylus input action is associated with a global
function. If the touch-free stylus input action is associated with
a global function, the method may continue with performing 605 the
global function. If the stylus action is not associated with a
global function, the method may continue with determining 606
whether the stylus is pointing to selected content on the
electronic device. In some embodiments, the selected content may
include, for example, a section of text, a selected file or
application, or any other selected content displayed on the
electronic device. Note that in some cases, the mere act of
pointing the stylus at the target content effectively amounts to
selecting that content, without anything further (e.g., no
highlighting). If the stylus is pointing to selected content on the
electronic device, the method may continue with performing 607 a
desired function on the selected content. The desired function may
be hard-coded or user-configurable and examples may include
deleting the selected text or file, running the selected
application, increasing font size, or any other action that may be
performed on the selected content. If the stylus is not pointing at
selected content on the electronic device, the method may continue
with determining 608 whether the stylus is pointing to a UI control
feature or UI icon. The UI control feature or icon may include, for
example, a volume icon, a slide bar, a brightness indicator, a tap
point graphic, etc. If the stylus is pointing to a UI control
feature or icon, the method may continue with performing 609 a
function associated with the UI control feature or icon. Functions
associated with UI control features or icons, for example, may
include scrolling down, increasing or decreasing volume, increasing
or decreasing brightness, selecting a tap point graphic, etc. If
the stylus is not pointing at a UI control feature or icon, the
method may continue with determining 610 whether the stylus action
is location sensitive. If the stylus action is location sensitive,
then the method may continue with performing 611 a function
associated with the location sensitive area of the electronic
device. A location sensitive stylus action, for example, may
include a stylus action hovering over the right side of a display
which turns to the next page of an eBook application. Many other
location sensitive stylus hover over actions will be apparent in
light of this disclosure. If the stylus action is not location
sensitive, the method may continue with determining 612 whether the
stylus action is associated with a custom function. If the stylus
action is associated with a custom function, the method may
continue with performing 613 the custom function. If the stylus
action is not associated with a custom function, the method may
continue with performing 614 a default hover over stylus function.
After any of the stylus functions has been performed, the method
may continue with further monitoring 601 whether a stylus is
hovering over a stylus detection surface.
[0055] Numerous variations and embodiments will be apparent in
light of this disclosure. One example embodiment of the present
invention provides a system including an electronic device having a
display for displaying content to a user and a stylus detection
surface for allowing user input via a stylus. The system also
includes a user interface executable on the device and including a
stylus hover over mode, wherein the stylus hover over mode is
configured to perform a function on the device in response to a
stylus-based control feature input provided without direct contact
between the stylus detection surface and stylus. In some cases, the
stylus hover over mode is further configured to perform a function
on the stylus. In some cases, the stylus detection surface includes
at least one set of antenna coils configured to detect changes in a
resonant circuit within the stylus. In some cases, the stylus
detection surface further includes a second set of antenna coils
configured to detect at least one of location, speed of stylus
movement, angle of stylus inclination and/or a change in resonant
frequency of the resonant circuit within the stylus. In some cases,
the system further includes a stylus, wherein the stylus includes
at least one control feature including at least one of a button, a
rotating knob, a switch, a touch-sensitive area, a
pressure-sensitive area, and/or a sliding control switch, any of
which can be used to provide the stylus-based control feature
input. In some such embodiments, the stylus is configured to
communicate with the electronic device over a wireless
communication link. In some such cases, the stylus can be
configured in real-time over the wireless communication link. In
some cases, the stylus detection surface detects a stylus-based
control feature input by detecting a change in resonant frequency
of the stylus. In some cases, the stylus-based control feature
input includes a combination of stylus-based control feature
actions that is unique from other stylus-based control feature
input. In some cases, the function performed by the stylus hover
over mode is user-configurable. In some cases, the electronic
device is further configured to provide at least one of an audio
and/or visual notification associated with a function. In some
cases, the function performed by the stylus hover over mode is
determined based on stylus location over the stylus detection
surface. In some cases, the display is a touch screen display and
includes the stylus detection surface. In some cases, the
electronic device is an eReader device or a tablet computer or a
smartphone. In some cases, the stylus-based control feature input
is derived from at least one of a press-and-release action and/or a
press-and-hold action.
[0056] Another example embodiment of the present invention provides
a system including an electronic device having a display for
displaying content to a user and a stylus detection surface for
allowing user input. The system also includes a stylus having at
least one control feature, wherein the stylus is configured to
communicate with the electronic device via the stylus detection
surface. The system also includes a user interface executable on
the device and comprising a stylus hover over mode, wherein the
stylus hover over mode is configured to perform a function on the
device in response to a stylus-based control feature input provided
without the stylus directly touching the stylus detection
surface.
[0057] Another example embodiment of the present invention provides
a computer program product including a plurality of instructions
non-transiently encoded thereon to facilitate operation of an
electronic device according to a process. The computer program
product may include one or more computer readable mediums such as,
for example, a hard drive, compact disk, memory stick, server,
cache memory, register memory, random access memory, read only
memory, flash memory, or any suitable non-transitory memory that is
encoded with instructions that can be executed by one or more
processors, or a plurality or combination of such memories. In this
example embodiment, the process is configured to display content to
a user via a device having a stylus detection surface for allowing
user input via a stylus; and perform a function in response to a
stylus-based control feature input provided without direct contact
between the stylus detection surface and stylus. In some cases, the
function includes at least one of performing an undo action,
performing an redo action, launching a note taking application,
recording a sound and/or images, or switching from a first tool to
a second tool. In some cases, the stylus control feature input is
provided by a stylus-based control feature comprising at least one
of a button, a rotating knob, a switch, and/or a sliding control
switch of the stylus. In some cases, the stylus detection surface
detects a stylus-based control feature input by detecting a change
in resonant frequency of the stylus.
[0058] The foregoing description of the embodiments of the
invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and
description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the
invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and
variations are possible in light of this disclosure. It is intended
that the scope of the invention be limited not by this detailed
description, but rather by the claims appended hereto.
* * * * *